Recipe(tried): Cottage Meat Loaf Dinner... Cottage Style Meat Loaf, Florida Sunshine Glazed Carrots, Southern Green Beans

Good Morning!! Yes....it rained a little bit last night, we need it soooo badly!!!

Sometimes you just feel like having a homey kind of meal, this one is it for us. Now you can seve it with mashed potatoes which is what goes perfectly with it but we are watching our waitlines around here so I will serve this Cottage Meat Loaf with fresh green beans and glazed chunks of carrots, my two favorite veggies. Also, a platter of sliced fresh tomatoes with an oil and balsamico vinaigrette. What more can you ask for?

Enjoy!!! Gina

COTTAGE STYLE MEAT LOAF
Makes 6 servings

FOR THE MEAT LOAF:
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup tomato juice
2 eggs beaten
2 tsp. mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp. salt and pepper
1/8 tsp. ground cayenne pepper
1/4 cup finely mined onion
1 lb. ground sirloin
FOR THE TOPPING:
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 tsp. mustard
2 tsp. brown sugar

Combine all the ingredients for the meat loaf except the beef; mix well. Add the meat and mix gently.

Line a loaf pan with foil. Press in the meat mixture.

Combine topping ingredients and put over the meat.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 45 minutes. Drain any fat and let rest for 5 minutes before cutting.


FLORIDA SUNSHINE GLAZED CARROTS
Serves 6

6 carrots, peeled and sliced into large chunks
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground corriander
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp. fresh orange or tangerine juice

Place the carrots in a saucepan, cover barely with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 min. Rinse under cold water and drain.

Stir the sugar and spices together and set aside.

Melt the butter in a skillet, stir in the carrots and the citrus juice. Sprinkle with the sugar mixture and cook over med. heat til carrots are glazed and sauce is slightly thick. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

SOUTHERN GREEN BEANS

1 lb. fresh green beans, ends snapped off
2 large onion slices, chopped
1 garlic clove
2 bacon strips
2 tbsp. veg. oil
pepper
salt
1-2 drops of hot sauce
splash of red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar

Cook bacon pieces with onion in a med. pot. After 3 min. add the oil and stir. Add seasonings and garlic clove. Add vinegar and beans, stir to coat. Cover and lower heat to med-low. Check after 5 min., stir, and lower heat to low. Cook for about 25 min or tender. You should have a delicious brown sauce coating the beans when they are ready.